NATCHEZ — An Adams County man was reportedly shot dead as he was trying to leave the scene of a fight late Sunday night.

The victim, 56-year-old Charles Knight, was pronounced dead at the scene at around midnight Monday.

Coroner James Lee said Knight had several bullet wounds to his back, and he was found in his truck behind True Love Baptist Church at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. and Steamplant roads.

“I am hurt and saddened by all these cases, but Charles was a parishioner of mine that I spent many hours with,” Lee said.

The incident reportedly began across the road from the church, and Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of shots fired at M&M Deli at approximately 11:50 p.m. Sunday, the sheriff’s office reported.

Those at the scene told deputies the victim and Lavander Lashon Williams, 36, had reportedly been engaged in an argument inside the deli, an argument that spilled out into the parking lot and became a physical altercation.

Witnesses told deputies that Knight had tried to leave the scene in his truck, but Williams had grabbed a gun from his vehicle and started shooting at Knight.

Knight’s truck left the parking lot, crossed the roadway and eventually came to a rest in a ditch behind the church.

Williams was later located in the parking lot of Merit Health Natchez, where he had reportedly gone for treatment for alleged assault wounds. He was arrested at approximately 12:40 a.m. and was transported to the ACSO Jail after he was treated at the hospital.

Williams was booked into the ACSO jail at 6:23 a.m. on charges of murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and a parole violation. He was detained late Monday on $800,000 bond.

The ACSO reported this is Williams’ 29th arrest since 2000.